Create Your Kindspace

Welcome to another episode of the ’Create Your Kindspace’ podcast, with me your host Caroline Laurenson. Create Your Kindspace is all about wellbeing and the different ways in which we care for ourselves and those around us. I have had some truly wonderful guests this year and I’m really excited for you to meet my last guest of 2024. She’s a super straight-talking entrepreneur, passionate about her mission to support people with their digestive health and break the taboo of talking about poo. So let's dive into my conversation with Gemma Stuart, founder of Gut Wealth Timestamps: 00:02:13             Gemma’s journey from IBS sufferer to founder of Gut Wealth 00:05:29             The social and emotional challenges of digestive health 00:08:24             Gemma’s five core tips for managing gut health 00:20:23             Entrepreneurship: The realities behind the scenes 00:31:36             The importance of listening and the power of kindness 00:37:31             Creating Your Kind Space: Gemma’s wellbeing practices 00:41:45             Reflections on our word of the year 00:45:54             Where to connect with Gemma and find out more about Gut Wealth   Links: Website: https://www.gutwealth.co.uk/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gutwealth.co/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gutwealth.co/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gemmastuart/   Transcript: https://createyourkindspace.com/be-kind-to-your-gut-with-gemma-stuart/ What a fantastic way to end 2024! I think the big takeaway for me from my discussion with Gemma was the power of being honest about our struggles - whether that's with our health, our businesses, or just life in general. Gemma's openness about living with IBS and the realities of running a business really resonated with me. Thank you so much for being part of the Create Your Kindspace community this year. I've loved sharing these conversations with you, and I can't wait to bring you more inspiring guests in 2025. Until then, keep creating your kindspace. Thank you so much for listening all the way to the end, before you go, I have a little favour to ask, so if you’ve liked this episode, please screenshot it, tag us on social media @createyourkindspace and maybe share what your key takeaway was from the episode. It would also be so wonderful if you could rate and review this podcast as it helps other people to find it. Thank you so much.   Disclaimer: The information on this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. You should seek the advice of an appropriately qualified healthcare professional before making decisions about your own circumstances. You should not disregard, or delay seeking professional medical advice because of any information contained on this podcast. Unless specifically mentioned on the podcast, Create Your Kindspace and Caroline Laurenson do not formally endorse or have any affiliation with any product or service mentioned in the podcast. The opinions and content provided and/or shared by any third-party guests, any third-party material or third-party website referenced in this podcast does not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Create Your Kindspace and Caroline Laurenson.

Welcome to another episode of the ’Create Your Kindspace’ podcast, with me your host Caroline Laurenson. Create Your Kindspace is all about wellbeing and the different ways in which we care for ourselves and those around us. Our homes are such an important aspect of our wellbeing. But for many of us, they can be a source of stress and overwhelm when our stuff becomes too much to manage. Today’s guest Debbie Junor from Clean Slate is going to share all her top organising and decluttering tips and also how to approach more challenging things like bereavement, children’s toys and gifting in the run-up to Christmas. Timestamps: 00:02:08 How Debbie became a professional organiser 00:06:40 Decluttering is not just about hoarders 00:09:44 How to get the stuff out of your home 00:16:54 Debbie’s advice for bereavement and sentimental items 00:21:40 Giving and receiving gifts without the guilt 00:24:33 Children’s toys and capturing memories 00:30:16 The rewards of helping people transform their living spaces 00:32:29 Challenges of running an organising business 00:37:04 The APDO community and professional support opportunities 00:41:25 Where to start on your decluttering journey 00:45:27 Debbie's kind space and future plans   Links: Clean Slate Website: https://cleanslateuk.co.uk/ Debbie’s Countdown to Christmas Planner: https://cleanslateuk.co.uk/countdown-to-christmas-planner/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cleanslateuk.uk/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cleanslateuk.uk/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/debbie-junor-90500419a/ APDO the UK's professional body for Declutterers and Organisers: https://www.apdo.co.uk/   Transcript: https://createyourkindspace.com/tips-for-an-organised-stress-free-home-with-debbie-junor/   There is something so very freeing about letting things go, but often that can be hard to do on your own, and so I can see how working with someone like Debbie would make such a massive difference and kind of help you get back not only your physical space but also lighten some of that mental load too. So I really hope that you enjoyed this episode and you’re able to kind of implement some of the ideas that we talked about. Thank you so much for listening, before you go, I have a little favour to ask, so if you’ve liked this episode, please screenshot it, tag us on social media @createyourkindspace and maybe share what your key takeaway was from the episode. It would also be so wonderful if you could rate and review this podcast as it helps other people to find it. Thank you so much.   Disclaimer: The information on this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. You should seek the advice of an appropriately qualified healthcare professional before making decisions about your own circumstances. You should not disregard, or delay seeking professional medical advice because of any information contained on this podcast. Unless specifically mentioned on the podcast, Create Your Kindspace and Caroline Laurenson do not formally endorse or have any affiliation with any product or service mentioned in the podcast. The opinions and content provided and/or shared by any third-party guests, any third-party material or third-party website referenced in this podcast does not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Create Your Kindspace and Caroline Laurenson.

Welcome to another episode of the ’Create Your Kindspace’ podcast, with me your host Caroline Laurenson. Create Your Kindspace is all about wellbeing and the different ways in which we care for ourselves and those around us. In today's episode, we're diving into the world of Alexa smart speakers. Last month I had the huge honour of performing a show as part of the Aberdeen Science Festival and I wanted to share it with you too. The show covered some of our favourite family-friendly tips and tricks to help you make the most of your Alexa. There’s so much that people don’t know about these devices, so let's jump in and discover how Alexa can create a kinder, smarter space for you and your family.   Timestamps: 00:01:10             Introduction and Overview 00:08:33             Important Data Privacy Advice 00:14:09             Getting Started and the Basics 00:16:02             Family-Friendly Features 00:18:36             Customising Your Alexa Experience 00:20:30             Some Alexa Skills to Try 00:25:57             Flash Briefings and Widgets 00:30:18             Hidden Features and Accessibility 00:33:07             It’s Quiz Time 00:36:57             Inspiring the Next Generation of Voice Developers 00:38:19             Resources for Further Learning 00:39:32             End of the Show Alexa Musical Piece   Links: What can I say to Alexa? Book: https://tltechsmart.com/what-can-I-say-to-Alexa HuggingFace https://huggingface.co/ Claude https://claude.ai/ Amazon Party Rock https://partyrock.aws/ Voice Flow https://www.voiceflow.com/ Vector Shift https://vectorshift.ai/ Alexa Skills Kit: https://developer.amazon.com/en-US/alexa/alexa-skills-kit/start Alexa Developers on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbx0SPpWT6yB7_yY_ik7pmg Dabble Lab: https://learn.dabblelab.com/alexa/ Codecademy: https://www.codecademy.com/learn/learn-alexa   Transcript: https://createyourkindspace.com/essential-alexa-tips-and-tricks-for-busy-families/   Outro: It was so much fun putting on this show. I think I slightly underestimated how much work it would be, but I’m so glad to have had the opportunity to share our Alexa knowledge. It was so amazing to share the stage with my daughter Eilidh too. If you’ve listened to this in audio format, you might also want to check out our YouTube channel for the video, where you’ll see our Alexa demo come to life when Eilidh pops out of the smart speaker box for the first time. If you’re looking for the list of resources mentioned, I’ve also popped these in the show notes for you. And of course if you have any Alexa questions, I’d be delighted to help. Thank you for listening all the way to the end, before you go, I have a little favour to ask, so if you’ve liked this episode, screenshot it, tag us on social media @createyourkindspace and maybe share what your key takeaway was from the episode. It would be so wonderful as well if you could rate and review the podcast as this helps other people to find it. Thank you so much.   Disclaimer: The information on this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. You should seek the advice of an appropriately qualified healthcare professional before making decisions about your own circumstances. You should not disregard, or delay seeking professional medical advice because of any information contained on this podcast. Unless specifically mentioned on the podcast, Create Your Kindspace and Caroline Laurenson do not formally endorse or have any affiliation with any product or service mentioned in the podcast. The opinions and content provided and/or shared by any third-party guests, any third-party material or third-party website referenced in this podcast does not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Create Your Kindspace and Caroline Laurenson.

Welcome to another episode of the ’Create Your Kindspace’ podcast, with me your host Caroline Laurenson. Create Your Kindspace is all about wellbeing and the different ways in which we care for ourselves and those around us. Today I’d like you to meet my wonderful friend Pei-I Yang from Rainbow Parenting Practice. We’re delving into the tricky topic of family relationships and specifically the tensions and issues that many of us face navigating the teenage years. Timestamps: 00:01:11             Introduction and Pei-I's Background 00:04:07             The Importance of Seeking Help with Parenting 00:09:38             Understanding Family Dynamics and Inherited Parenting Traits 00:15:33             Pei-I's Approach to Helping Families 00:20:15             Success Stories and Transformations 00:28:19             Pei-I's Media Appearances and GB News Interview 00:34:26             The "Teen Talk" Podcast 00:42:15             Tuning into Your Soul and Self-Care 00:45:45             How to Connect with Pei-I and Rainbow Parenting Practice   Links: Website: https://www.rainbowparentingpractice.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pei-i-yang/ Teen Talk Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/4VZsroFmjmAyju7sHtDlkN?si=eca2ae1da3174d12   Transcript: https://createyourkindspace.com/pei-i-yang-helps-us-to-find-family-harmony/   There is not a day goes by that I don’t feel grateful for my family and my kids. There is nothing that I wanted more growing up than to have a stable normal life. So it’s very comforting to know that there are people like Pei-I out there dedicating themselves to helping families through difficult times and allowing them to repair and rebuild those fragile relationships. If you are listening to this and you’re in need of support, I know Pei-I would be delighted to hear from you. Thank you for listening all the way to the end, before you go, I have a little favour to ask, so if you’ve liked this episode, screenshot it, tag us on social media @createyourkindspace and maybe share what your key takeaway was from the episode. It would so wonderful as well if you could rate and review the podcast as this helps other people to find it. Thank you so much.   Disclaimer: The information on this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. You should seek the advice of an appropriately qualified healthcare professional before making decisions about your own circumstances. You should not disregard, or delay seeking professional medical advice because of any information contained on this podcast. Unless specifically mentioned on the podcast, Create Your Kindspace and Caroline Laurenson do not formally endorse or have any affiliation with any product or service mentioned in the podcast. The opinions and content provided and/or shared by any third-party guests, any third-party material or third-party website referenced in this podcast does not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Create Your Kindspace and Caroline Laurenson.

If I say the words Life Admin, what feelings come up for you? Is it immediate overwhelm? I think at this time of year, when we’re thinking about getting back to school and realising how the end of the year isn’t actually that far away, it can cause a slight sense of panic when you realise how many balls you are juggling. My guest today, Catherine Ann Reid has created a super user-friendly digital solution called Doqit that brings together all that life admin into one place and offers timely reminders so you’ll never drop a ball again. Timestamps: 00:01:21             Introduction and Catherine Ann’s Background 00:03:31             The Inspiration Behind Doqit 00:06:44             Solving the Life Admin Problem 00:09:29             Implementing Doqit and User Stories 00:19:50             The Role of AI and Future Possibilities 00:23:26             The Tech Founder Journey 00:35:23             Reflections and Lessons Learned 00:41:15             Inspiring and Being Inspired By Our Kids 00:48:38             Finding Balance and Creating Kind Spaces   Links: Website: https://www.doqit.io/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/catherineannreid/   Transcript: https://createyourkindspace.com/catherine-ann-reid-helps-us-to-conquer-lifes-admin/ It never ceases to amaze me how resilient people can be. I am so blessed to be able to have such beautiful guests on, who share their life lessons and passion for helping others. You can hopefully tell from this episode that I feel a deep connection with Catherine Ann and Chloe, I’ve walked a similar path with my own disability. My mum had five kids and had to juggle all my appointments and treatment and I know she would have loved something like Doqit to help keep her organised. Can I ask you a favour? If you’ve liked this episode, please screenshot it and tag us on social media @createyourkindspace. It would also be so wonderful if you could rate and review the podcast to help other people find it.

Today on Kindspace I’m delighted to introduce you to Gemma Burns, a life coach and author of the book "Dare to Grow." Gemma shares her personal journey, including losing her brother at a young age, becoming a single mother, navigating her career and finding a path to personal growth through coaching. Keep listening to find out more about techniques to identify core values, self-reflect and define those small steps to achieve your goals. Timestamps: 00:02:17             Gemma's Background and Path to Coaching 00:05:42             Challenges of Balancing Work, Studies, and Motherhood 00:08:51             Developing Study Techniques (Mind Maps, Memorisation) 00:14:41             Exploring Core Values and Self-Reflection 00:20:55             Imposter Syndrome and Accepting Positive Feedback 00:26:07             The Importance of Not Comparing Yourself to Others 00:28:51             Techniques for Goal Setting 00:32:35             Managing Grief and Difficult Life Transitions 00:39:38             Using the "Gap Analysis" Tool to Identify Growth Areas 00:41:43             The GROW Model and WOOP goals 00:47:40             Coaching and Building Resilience 00:57:28             Finding Contentment and Pursuing Passions Like DIY   Links: Website: https://www.lilibetcoaching.com/ Dare to Grow book: https://amzn.to/3QDyWXE What can I say to Alexa book: https://tltechsmart.com/what-can-I-say-to-Alexa LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gemmaburns-lilibetcoaching/   Transcript: https://createyourkindspace.com/daring-to-grow-and-the-power-of-self-coaching-with-gemma-burns/ Now you might have heard us mention my book and be thinking what book? To support people on the smart home side of our business I’ve created a guide book for the Amazon Alexa smart speakers called “What can I say to Alexa?” Essentially, it’s a reference guide to help people learn about the different Alexa features and commands. If you want to check it out it’s on Amazon, you can type in the book title “What can I say to Alexa?” or just type in something like “Alexa commands” and you should find it in the search results. I’ll also pop a link in the show notes here as well. As the podcast series continues, I encourage you to get in touch and share your stories and tips, I’d love to hear from you! Pop me an email at caroline@tltechsmart.com or message on social media @createyourkindspace

It's not every day that you get the opportunity to share your story and do it on a day as meaningful as International Women's Day. Our life experiences have such a profound way of shaping our future selves and not always in the way that you might expect. There will be amazing people in your life that have gone through things and overcome things that you could never even imagine. I was honoured to share my story and also hear the stories of other brave inspirational women, but in all our stories what came out was how much our own mother's have influenced the women we have become. So this is my story... Timestamps: 00:01:20             It’s Halloween 1989 00:02:02             The Chaos of Family Life 00:03:32             Leaving Home at 16 00:04:05             My Career as a Chemical Engineer 00:05:01             The Interesting Thing About Fear 00:06:12             Working with Your Other Half 00:07:34             Labels Don’t Define Us 00:09:19             Stories that Shape Us 00:09:53             Finding Kindspace 00:10:27             Honouring My Mum   Links: TL Tech Website: https://www.tltechsmart.com/ Kindspace Website: https://www.createyourkindspace.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caroline-laurenson/   Transcript: https://createyourkindspace.com/stories-that-shape-us-with-caroline-laurenson/   As the podcast series continues, I encourage you to get in touch and share your stories and tips, I’d love to hear from you! Pop me an email at caroline@tltechsmart.com or message on social media @createyourkindspace

Imagine you’ve just become a mum for the first time, but you’re struggling with your health. Appointment after appointment, test after test, you finally get the news you have Multiple Sclerosis. My guest, Dr Clara Doran, opens up about her diagnosis and experience of living with a long-term health condition. She also shares how writing about her feelings and the challenges of becoming the patient instead of the doctor and how has led to her forthcoming memoir, Dr Interrupted. I can’t wait to find out more, so let’s dive in. Timestamps: 00:02:16             Pursuing Medicine and General Practice 00:03:38             The AccelerateHer Programme's Impact 00:06:13             Doing Scary Things & Funny First Times 00:08:19             Discovering Brain Health and Founding Noggin 00:13:25             Living with Multiple Sclerosis 00:16:41             Sleeping and Newborns 00:19:00             Prioritising Sleep for Brain Health 00:27:51             Nutrition Tips for Better Sleep 00:36:20             The Journey of Writing a Memoir 00:47:03             Creating Kind Spaces through Writing 00:49:54             Looking Ahead: Children's Brain Health Product   Links: Website: https://nogginbrain.co.uk/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NogginTheBrainPeople/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/nogginthebrainpeople/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-clara-doran-mbbs-mrcgp-81667958/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nogginbrain/ X: https://twitter.com/NogginPeople Curtis Brown Writing Courses: https://www.curtisbrowncreative.co.uk/creative-writing-courses Big Feelings: How to Be Okay When Things Are Not Okay: https://amzn.to/3J5k4gA The Psychology Mum - A Toolkit for Your Emotions: 45 ways to feel better https://amzn.to/49qZ8Ls   Transcript: https://createyourkindspace.com/understand-brain-health-sleep-and-nutrition-with-dr-clara-doran/   Outro: I think there’s nothing more powerful than when someone takes a life experience and uses that to help others. Dr Clara is one of the most courageous, intelligent and kind people I’ve ever had the honour of meeting. I’m very excited for the book launch and I hope you’ll all get behind her to help broaden the reach of her amazing work helping others through difficult diagnoses and educating us about the importance of brain health. As the podcast series continues, I encourage you to get in touch and share your stories and tips, I’d love to hear from you! Pop me an email at caroline@tltechsmart.com or message on social media @createyourkindspace

Would you believe it if I told you that unpaid carers do the equivalent of 162 billion pounds of work every year? But despite the vital role that unpaid carers provide, support is significantly lacking and the limited support that there is, can be so hard to navigate. My guest today has made it his mission to bridge this gap. Darren Crombie founded Bridgit Care and his resourcefulness and ability to adapt to the changing technology landscape shines through in our discussion. Keep listening for this fascinating insight into how human-centric tech can empower carers and communities. Timestamps: 00:02:17             Darren's journey from management consulting to founding Bridgit Care 00:04:49             Why support for unpaid carers matters 00:05:47             Putting lived experience at the heart of Bridgit Care 00:12:34             How Bridgit Care identifies, supports, and connects carers 00:15:54             Partnering with charities and councils to enhance existing carer services 00:17:14             Using WhatsApp and AI personas to provide tailored support and advice 00:25:02             The role of AI in health and social care 00:28:03             Expanding the model to support other communities in need 00:31:08             Pivoting from hardware to software 00:33:43             A day in the life of Darren at Bridgit Care 00:37:35             How does Darren create his kind space? 00:40:49             Where to find out more about Bridgit Care 00:43:07             Supporting other social entrepreneurs   Links: Website: https://bridgit.care/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bridgitcare LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bridgitcare/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bridgitcare X: https://twitter.com/BridgitCare Aster Foundation: https://www.aster.co.uk/foundation Barclay Eagle Labs Health Tech: https://labs.uk.barclays/our-industries/healthtech/ Codebase Techscaler Start-up Support: https://www.techscaler.co.uk/   Transcript: https://createyourkindspace.com/darren-crombie-bridges-the-gap-to-support-unpaid-carers/ If you’d like to be a guest on the show or collaborate on content, I would love to hear from you! Pop me an email at caroline@tltechsmart.com or message me on social media @createyourkindspace It would also mean a lot to me if you could rate and review this podcast as it helps other people to discover our content.

In this episode, with the help of the amazing Dr Jill William’s, we delve into the topic of burnout. There are many aspects to burnout. Contrary to popular belief, burnout is not working too hard. It’s about chronic stress and our bodies response to that stress. Often, it’s external factors, which are difficult to influence or resolve. Jill does such a great job of explaining the warning signs for burnout and the simple steps we can take to uptrain our brain to be more resilient to these pressures. And most importantly, make it out the other side. Timestamps: 00:02:41             Jill’s journey, working in retail to lecturing at university 00:05:57             Experiencing burnout firsthand 00:10:01             Common warning signs 00:12:16             Burnout is multifaceted 00:14:06             Importance of confiding in a trusted coworker 00:15:45             Coming out of burnout with a new perspective 00:17:49             The stages of burnout 00:18:35             Self-employed and entrepreneurs 00:20:06             Jill’s road to recovery 00:20:50             That feeling of disconnect 00:21:38             The importance of taking time out 00:23:52             Peer support is a protective factor 00:25:34             Strategies for prevention 00:26:36             Doing the “opposites” 00:27:22             Societal factors, talking about our life outside work 00:31:50             Creativity and giving your brain space 00:37:50             The concept of rust-out 00:39:30             The uptrained brain 00:42:10             How to approach blocks and negative thinking 00:44:46             Unhelpful behaviours and risk factors 00:45:47             People pleasing 00:47:05             Putting a recovery plan together 00:52:18             Caregiver Burnout   00:55:43             How Jill creates her kind space 00:59:07             How to get in touch with Jill 00:59:37             Organisational changes are needed   Links: Jill’s blog about her burnout experience; https://www.rethinktherapyconwy.com/post/if-a-psychologist-can-burn-out-my-personal-story-of-burnout Uptrained Brain course & Book a discovery call with Jill: https://www.rethinktherapyconwy.com/uptrainedbrain Free Recovery from Burnout Guide: https://www.rethinktherapyconwy.com/blog/categories/burnout-work-related-stress Nick Petrie resources: https://www.nicholaspetrie.com/blog-1 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheUptrainedBrain LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-jill-williams-92a907255/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uptrainedbrain/ X: https://twitter.com/UptrainedBrain   Transcript: https://createyourkindspace.com/dr-jill-williams-helps-us-to-find-light-after-burnout/ If you’d like to be a guest on the show or collaborate on content, I would love to hear from you! Pop me an email at caroline@tltechsmart.com or message me on social media @createyourkindspace It would also mean a lot to me if you could rate and review this podcast as it helps other people to discover our content.

Hi, it's Caroline here. This episode will be a little bit different. There's no guest. It's just me having a bit of a reflection. There are many reasons for doing a look back, both for the podcast and for the year that's just passed. I thought this would be a good opportunity for you to get to know me a bit and learn a bit more about Kindspace and its origins. I also really wanted to have a quiet Christmas without any pressure to create or have to do any work. Ah, but isn't it funny, you know, when you give yourself some downtime, just be bored and potter around and that's actually when you can be your most creative.  I don't know if anyone else finds that but certainly my brain. seems to come alive with ideas. And I'm like, no, do nothing. Watch Netflix. So I hope you were able to switch off over the festive period and are feeling recharged and ready for 2024. Timestamps: 00:00:40             Introduction to this slightly different episode 00:01:45             Did you miss our Tech the Halls bonus episode? 00:03:04             How did Kindspace come to be? 00:08:27             Why did I decide to start the podcast? 00:12:21             Who have we had on the show so far? 00:22:06             How do I feel about the podcast for the year ahead? 00:25:06             Do you have a word of the year for 2024?              Links: Website: https://www.createyourkindspace.com/   Transcript: https://createyourkindspace.com/lets-kick-off-2024-with-special-guest-me/ If you’d like to be a guest on the show or collaborate on content, I would love to hear from you! Pop me an email at caroline@tltechsmart.com or message me on social media @createyourkindspace It would also mean a lot to me if you could rate and review this podcast as it helps other people to discover our content.

If you caught the last episode you will have heard that as part of an event series we've been running in December, we'd decided to go with the theme of Tech the Halls. We've had a great time with students coming along to shadow the set-up for the venue, school pupils helped us to create smart home prototypes, we've had people from the third sector along to learn about the ways that smart homes can support wellbeing and healthy ageing, we did a lunch and learn all about the energy efficiency and environmental side of smart homes and on the last day, we went to town with festive light displays and a workshop where people could create their own programmable LED light wreath for the holiday season. So here it is, as promised, Tech the Halls, written and performed by me Caroline Laurenson. I hope that you have the most amazing Christmas, and know that I am here for you, Kindspace is here for you and we will see you in the New Year. Enjoy! Tech the Halls Tech the halls with LED lights, Fa la la la la, la la la la! Tis the season joyous and bright, Fa la la la la, la la la la! Turn on the fairy lights at a word, Fa la la la la, la la la la! Ask Alexa for music preferred, Fa la la la la, la la la la!   See the smart home support your needs, Fa la la la la, la la la la! Automate the heating degrees, Fa la la la la, la la la la! Stock up now, don't delay, Fa la la la la, la la la la! Let me show you tech's array, Fa la la la la, la la la la!   As the old year closes in, Fa la la la la, la la la la! Await the new year to begin, Fa la la la la, la la la la! Sing we now of tech with glee, Fa la la la la, la la la la! Smarter homes for you and me! Fa la la la la, la la la la!

So, here’s a funny story for you. When I was at school, the big rumour that went round was that I had a record contract. I have literally no idea where this came from, however if it had of been true it really would have been a dream come true. Singing has always been a big part of me, but sensible Caroline decided to become an engineer as this seemed like a more reliable way to make a living. My guest today has not only devoted her career to music but made the leap into entrepreneurship to create a digital platform that allows others to harness the benefits of singing.   Timestamps: 00:02:28             Meet Xann 00:04:26             Biiah – a new way to promote workplace wellbeing 00:13:07             The holistic benefits of singing 00:16:49             Overcoming barriers, the "good voice" myth 00:19:47             Practical tips for using your voice 00:25:38             Scientific research into the benefits of singing 00:26:55             Gender stereotypes mean men are missing out 00:30:38             You don’t need to be able to read music 00:36:14             Circle singing and improvisation 00:38:28             The magic of music at Christmas 00:41:52             Local singing opportunities 00:44:13             How Xann looks after her wellbeing 00:51:20             Where to find out more about Biiah   Links: Website: https://biiah.com/ Email: xann@biiah.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/xann-schwinn/ and https://www.linkedin.com/company/biiah-official/ Articles: https://biiah.com/resource-hub/ and https://biiah.com/2022/08/24/singing-for-wellness/   For the full transcript of this episode see: https://createyourkindspace.com/podcast I encourage you to get in touch and share your stories and tips, I’d love to hear from you! Pop me an email at caroline@tltechsmart.com or message on social media @createyourkindspace It would also mean a lot to me if you could rate and review this podcast as it helps other people to discover our content.

Losing a loved one is never easy. My guest today turned her grief, after losing her brother to suicide, into a profound personal mission. Devoting her career to suicide prevention and mental health training and campaigning for more support in these areas, particularly for those most vulnerable in our society. In this emotional yet hopeful discussion, Holly shares her own journey, the misconceptions that fuel stigma, and the simple steps we can take to look out for those around us. Keep listening to find out how we can create the kind of spaces, where speaking up saves lives. Timestamps: 00:03:08             Holly's Journey to Suicide Prevention Work 00:07:55             Creating the Space to Talk About Suicide 00:13:14             A Baton of Hope - Raising Awareness 00:21:52             Money Worries and Mental Health 00:28:47             Some of the Myths and How to Spot the Signs 00:36:04             Support in Schools and for Young People 00:38:03             Journaling for Mental Health 00:43:38             The Challenges and Rewards of Running a Business 00:48:04             What’s Coming Up for Blooming Mind? 00:49:48             Self-Care and Working Through Trauma 00:53:42             Links to Connect with Holly and Support Resources   Links: Website: Blooming Mind – Check out Holly’s training for mental health and suicide first aid. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BloomingmindUK/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bloomingminduk LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hollyclarkbloomingmind/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@bloomingminduk Sunrise Scribbler – Holly’s journal to help you on your journey to better mental health. Samaritans – Available 24/7. Reach out at 116, 123. They're there for everyone, not just those in a crisis. Shout – A discreet text service for those times when you might not want to vocalise your feelings. Simply text to 25852, and a trained professional will offer their support. Hub of Hope – This comprehensive tool can be accessed either via an app or on your desktop at hubofhope.co.uk. Just input your postcode, and discover the local support services available near you, catering to a wide range of needs. A Local Information Service for Scotland ALISS – Helping you to find services, groups and activities for health and wellbeing across Scotland. Works on your desktop at aliss.org or your Alexa smart speaker, just say “Alexa, enable My Scottish Community” to get started. For money advice check out: Money and Pensions Service – talk money week Martin Lewis’ Money Saving Expert website – a literal goldmine of advice for all things money Money and Mental Health Policy Institute - Also headed up by Martin, this is where you can get involved in vital research that will help to ensure that people with financial worries are properly supported. Baton for Hope – This baton relay tours around the country, get involved and raise awareness about suicide.   For the full transcript of this episode see: https://createyourkindspace.com/podcast I encourage you to get in touch and share your stories and tips, I’d love to hear from you! Pop me an email at caroline@tltechsmart.com or message on social media @createyourkindspace It would also mean a lot to me if you could rate and review this podcast as it helps other people to discover our content.

Do you ever have a conversation or spend time with someone and come away feeling like you understand yourself better? That’s how I feel spending time with my next guest, Birgit Itse. She makes me feel like I can write and let go of the belief that I am more of a numbers person. She makes me feel like capturing stories matters and that my story matters. Keep listening as Birgit shares her top tips for memoir writing and her incredible story of how she moved from Estonia to Scotland to pursue her dream of writing. Timestamps: 00:02:59             Birgit's journey from Estonia to Scotland 00:09:59             The inspiration behind Birgit's book "The Alphabet of Life" 00:12:30             Using writing to explore meaningful words 00:19:37             Tips for writing your memoir or life story 00:38:13             The connection between memory and imagination 00:41:46             Being bilingual: challenges and benefits 00:48:42             Unleashing your inner writing genius and building confidence 00:53:29             Birgit's self-care rituals and taking a pause   Links: Upcoming workshop on the 18th of Oct 2023 with Birgit in Aberdeen: https://www.eventbrite.fi/e/unleash-your-writing-genius-tickets-722854315717 Website: https://birgit-itse.com/ The Alphabet of Life book: https://amzn.to/3sTcy3w LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/birgit-itse/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/birgit.itse/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/omataoline/?hl=en%20 X: https://twitter.com/BirgitItse   For the full transcript of this episode see: https://createyourkindspace.com/podcast I encourage you to get in touch and share your stories and tips, I’d love to hear from you! Pop me an email at caroline@tltechsmart.com or message on social media @createyourkindspace It would also mean a lot to me if you could rate and review this podcast as it helps other people to discover our content.

For most of us it can be a struggle to make healthy food choices. Juggling work and kids and family can mean that it’s easy to reach for things that don’t best fuel your body. I can’t wait for you to meet my next guest, Siobhan Jaffray, to find out about her personal journey to becoming a certified nutrition coach, as well as all her amazing tips for healthy eating. I also learned a new term, food neutrality. Stay tuned to learn more about this and about how the lockdown period provided an opportunity for Siobhan to pursue her passion. Timestamps: 00:02:12             From yoyo dieting to qualified coach 00:03:55             Launching a business in lockdown 00:05:56             Journaling for selfcare and positive self-talk 00:10:34             How to practice food neutrality 00:11:43             Top tips for sustainable lifestyle changes 00:19:42             The challenges and rewards of entrepreneurship 00:21:43             Creating a daily Kindspace 00:23:43             Getting out in nature & the fake commute 00:25:03             Supporting local food banks 00:30:08             Start now on the path to better health   Links: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SJNutrition21 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sj_nutriti0n/?hl=en-gb Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sj_nutrition1 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/siobhan-jaffray/ Sign up to Siobhan’s newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/ee4839be482d/sj-nutrition-newsletter-sign-up 90 days to better nutrition journal: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0BZF8PPCH?ref_=cm_sw_r_apin_dp_5ZDWJ5TPZK98C9RPXF2Y   For the full transcript of this episode see: https://createyourkindspace.com/podcast I encourage you to get in touch and share your stories and tips, I’d love to hear from you! Pop me an email at caroline@tltechsmart.com or message on social media @createyourkindspace

In my time as an entrepreneur, I have had the pleasure of meeting many dedicated people who help others to live their best lives possible. My next guest, Pasna Sallis, is a true example of how to combine professional knowledge with energy and drive to make a difference. She lights up the world and never shies away from a challenge.  In our chat, we talk about Pasna’s background in occupational therapy and how she went on to create the Weekday Wow Factor, a community that supports older adults. Pasna’s passion is infectious, and I hope listening inspires you in your work or in your community to connect with those around you and make life a little bit more fun and adventure filled. Timestamps: 00:01:37 Pasna’s background in occupational therapy 00:04:19 What is Weekday Wow Factor, how did it start? 00:11:59 Adapting the activities to suit individual needs 00:15:19 Benefits of connecting with the outdoors 00:17:20 Opening up opportunities for social connection 00:19:16 Covid-19 & delivering activities online via Zoom  00:22:38 Recognising your achievements 00:24:09 Managing risk in a way that is empowering 00:26:40 Shifting perceptions about ageing & getting older 00:30:03 Staying energised under challenging circumstances 00:32:21 Competing for funds 00:36:19 What’s coming up next for Weekday Wow Factor? 00:41:55 What does creating a kindspace mean to Pasna? 00:48:07 Making technology accessible and getting online 00:51:52 How to get in touch and find out more about Pasna’s work?   Links: Website: https://weekdaywowfactor.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/weekdaywowfactor Twitter: https://twitter.com/WeekdayWOW LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/weekday-wow-factor/ Connect with Pasna: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pasna-sallis-5628473b/ Email: weekdaywowfactor@gmail.com or pasna.sallis@weekdaywowfactor.com   For the full transcript for this episode see: https://createyourkindspace.com/podcast   I encourage you to get in touch and share your stories and tips, I’d love to hear from you! Pop me an email at caroline@tltechsmart.com or message on social media @createyourkindspace

An area that particularly fascinates me is the crossover between the tech and the creative world. Collaborating and experimenting with new ideas can unlock huge potential, that’s why I’m so delighted to introduce today’s guest, Neil Bebber. An award-winning writer and truly inspirational example of turning a passion into a whole new career. In our chat, we look not only at this intersection and the innovative ways that technology and the creative arts are supporting wellbeing but we also get a peek behind the scenes at what it’s like to be a writer and the mental health challenges. Timestamps: 00:01:26    How did Neil Bebber become a writer? 00:05:04    Where did the idea for short stories for Stressed Grown-ups come from? 00:08:35    What is interactive storytelling on Alexa? 00:10:44    What are the wellbeing benefits of immersive theatre and voice technology? 00:13:19    What inspires Neil’s writing? 00:17:21    What was it like doing a masterclass at BBC Hay Festival? 00:19:05    Failure and saying yes 00:22:16    Writing is about conversations and listening 00:23:22    Challenges to being in a creative profession, coping with rejection 00:29:16    Innovating in the online dating world through gaming 00:32:06    What’s coming up next for Neil? 00:34:01    Inviting the Kindspace community to shape the next bedtime story in the collection 00:37:10    What does creating kind space mean to Neil? 00:39:41    How to get in touch and find out more about Neil’s work?   Links: The Grey Hill – Theatre Library: just say the magic words “Alexa, enable the gray hill”. See here for more info https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0C69T187F/ Hay Festival: https://www.hayfestival.com/home Elizabeth Day – How to Fail: https://amzn.to/45XXxMG Kindspace on Alexa: just say the magic words “Alexa, open Kindspace”, if you have the Echo Show 15, you might need to say "Alexa, open the Kindspace skill” to get it to open. See here for more info: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08MJDV5RT/ The Kindspace Bedtime Stories: https://createyourkindspace.com/sharing-our-human-experiences-through-stories/ Neil’s website: https://www.goodwordsanddesign.com/   For the full transcript for this episode see: https://createyourkindspace.com/podcast   I encourage you to get in touch and share your stories and tips, I’d love to hear from you! Pop me an email at caroline@tltechsmart.com or message on social media @createyourkindspace

Create Your Kindspace is all about wellbeing and the different ways in which we care for ourselves and those around us. We’re here to offer companionship and practical tips to brighten your day. We’ll delve into the concept of kind spaces, chatting with an inspiring mix of people from across tech, wellness, and entrepreneurship. Let’s learn together and sprinkle some much needed kindness in the world. So, take a pause, relax, and let’s start the journey.